Covington mayor, council members say their goodbyes

It was a long night of goodbyes Tuesday as the six outgoing Covington City Council members and Mayor Candace Watkins bade their farewells.

View full sizeBob Warren, The Times-PicayuneCovington Mayor Candace Watkins and the outgoing City Council members were honored during this week's meeting. Seated, left to right, are Councilwoman Frances Dunn, Councilman Mark Sacco, Councilman Marty Benoit and Councilman Clarence Romage. Standing from left to right are Councilman Matt Faust, Watkins, and Councilman Trey Blackall.

With some tears and heartfelt emotion, council members Frances Dunn, Clarence Romage, Mark Sacco, Matt Faust, Trey Blackall and Marty Benoit thanked Covington's residents for the chance to serve and wished the incoming council good luck.

A new mayor and six new council members will be sworn in to office in July, joining Councilman Lee Alexius, who will move from District E to an at-large post.

Watkins and each of the outgoing council members received a plaque and kind words from former City Councilwoman Pat Clanton. They posed for pictures and then, in turn, took to the microphone.

Watkins thanked everyone for their support and said that while not all the city's problems were solved, a lot was accomplished.

"I think we made a lot of good things happen,'' Blackall, an at-large member, told her.

Benoit, Sacco and Romage each spoke of their gratitude for having been voted into office and said public service has enriched their lives. Faust added that he will treasure the friendships he's made during 20 years on the council.

And Dunn, known for her exuberance and channeling her best Diana Ross, borrowed from Motown and the king of the cowboys, Roy Rogers, to let everyone know she plans to be quite active in community and social causes: "Ain't no mountain high enough . . .'' she sang loudly, punctuating her comments with cheerful, "Happy trails to all of you.''